Multiple desk unit



Nov. 16, 1954 c. H. DENT MULTIPLE DESK UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1950 v INVENTOR.- renc e .79. @6122, Z BY Zjwz jZ/orneys Nov. 16, 1954 c. H. DENT MULTIPLE DESK UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 29, 1950 f INVENTOR.

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fw $1M fliorne s' United States Patent IPLE DESK UNIT:

Clarence H, Dent, Stevens Point wis Application December 29, 1950, SerialNo. 203,352

6 Claims. (Cl. 312-1196) This invention relates tounitized. desk structure and more particularly to desk combinations utilizing. a. plu rality of standard olfice type desks.

An object of this. invention. is. to providemultipledesk units for use in open-area office space whereby a. greater number of desk accommodations. may be utilized in a given space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a more compact. arrangement of desk accommodations while retaining normal aisle clearance and; working area.

A further object is to provide space conserving semi: private desk accommodations inv open-area. office space by employing partitioning means contained within the working surface areas of-the desks themselves.

A further object is to provide semi-private yet. compact desk accommodations whereby telephones, wastebaskets,

unit. which places workers in close proximity to. each other without sacrifice of privacy whereby work may be readily transferred from one worker toanother A further object of the invention is to provide a partitioned multiple desk unit having surface dimensions such that partition members of uniform length may be employed to facilitate individual replacementv of; thesame by partition members ofstandard construction.

A further object is to provide a partitioned multiple desk unit having desk, partition, and auxiliary shelf members which may be readily disassembled and; replaced.

The desk units briefly comprise four standard. type desks grouped in a inwheel or solid rectangular. pattern with one corner of each desk abutting a corner of,

each of the other desks to provide a hubor axis for the unit. Extending from such hub along andsupported by contiguous edges of the desk tops are framed opague glass partitions providing semi-privacy for desk occupants. At the outer ends of two or. more partitions, shelves are secured both. to the lower member of the partition frame and the desks separated by the partition to provide additional work surface.

These and other objects and advantages will. appear in connection with the following description of; an; embodiment of the invention illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure l is a perspective view of a desk unit formed of four standard desks arranged in asolid rectangular pattern;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a desk unit similar to that illustrated in Fig. I;

Fig. 3 isa plan view of four standard desks arranged in L-shaped patterns;

Fig. 4 is a detail view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail view taken along line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail view taken on line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the upper center block, one of the four frame members for which the block serves as a hub member, and the cap which secures the block to frame members;

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the center block, cap,

2,694,614 Patented NOV- 16, 1 5

and framev members, with partsv broken. away and sectioned;

Fig. 9. is a detail. view taken on line 9.-9 of Fig. 2; hlgg. 10 is. av detail sectional view of the end of a s e 'Fig. 11 is. a. detail sectional view taken along line 11.-1 1.of Fig. 9; and

Fig 12 is a detail view of the joint between a shelf and desk.

Referring to the drawings, standard desks may be arranged in, patterns such as those illustrated in Figs. 2 andv 3; The arrangement of Fig. 2, shown. in perspective in Fig. 1, comprises four desks 1 disposed as asubstantially, solid rectangle. Separating desk occupants, are four-opaque glass partitions Z-having their edges confined by frames 3. Framesficomprise top rail members 4, bottomrails 5, and end rails 6.

The innermost endsof rails 5 of the frames are joined at thecenter of the desk rectangle and the partitions extend outwardly from that center, the bottom rail. 5 of each partition frame bridging adjacent desk top edges. The partitions supported on the longer desk edgesterminate short of the ends of the desks leaving av portion of the rear ofeach desk unobstructed to provide for the disposition of a mail distributor or other office device which is to be shared by oppositely seated workers. Also, the passage of work material between desk occupants is thus facilitated.

The partitions 2 which extend along the shorter desk edges overhang the desks and partially separate shelves 7 secured both. to the underside of bottom rails 5 of the partition and the desks partitioned thereby.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the partitions 2 which are supported wholly within the surface area of the desk rectangle have their outer ends anchored to adjacent desk edges by a bolt 8 which extends between a countersunk recess 9 in the bottom rail 5 of each partition frame and a metal-plate 10 disposed beneath and bridging adjacent portions of the overhanging desk tops. Rail 5 and plate 14} are tightly drawn against the desk tops by a wing nut 11 threaded to bolt 8.

Broper spacing of the desks is maintained by hardwood blocks 12 securedby wood screws 13 to the underside of each bottom rail 5 preferably at the point of attachment of, a bolt 8. Blocks 12 are formed with central apertures 14 to receive and center a bolt 8 between desk tops.

Separation of; adjacent desks is prevented by bands 1,5, encircling. adjacent desk legs as shown in Fig. l. Bands 15. are provided to further insure the spacing of the desks determined by frame carried blocks 12.

The end rails 6 of the partition frames 3 which are disposed centrally of the desk rectangle are joined by upper and lower center-blocks 16 and 17, respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

Center-blocks 1 6 and 17 are vertically fixed with respect. to the inner end rails 6 by metal dowels 18 disposed. in registering recesses formed in the center-blocks and rails. The upper center-block 16 and frame 3 are joined by a cap 19 which is centrally apertured for a wood screw 2Q.which secures, it to center-block 16 Cap 19 is formedwjth oppositely extending arms which overhang block 16; and are apertured at 21 to receive screws 22;joining the cap tofrarne 3.

The lower center-block 17 is anchored to the desks by a bolt 2;; carrying a. nut 24- which bears against the upper surface of the block. The head 25 of bolt. 23 is tightlydrawn against a-square metal plate 26 which abuts the underside of each desk top corner that is disposed centrally of the deskrectangle.

Figures 10, 11, and: 12 illustrate the. construction of the shelves 7 and their attachment to adjoining desks anda partition frame 3;

Each shelf 7 is recessed along its inner edge to receive an angle bar 27, Figs. 9 and 12, and near its outer edge to receive an angle plate 28, Figs. 9, 10, and 11. Each bar 27 is secured to a shelf 7 by upwardly extending screws 29 and to the edges of the desk tops which that shelf abuts by horizontally disposed screws 30. Plate 28 is secured to a shelf 7 by screws 31. The depending arm of angle-plate 28 is bolted to a strut 32 that extends angularly downwardly from shelf 7 to near the bottom of a desk leg to which it is fastened by screws 33, Fig. 9. t

The meeting edges of each shelf 7 and the two desks to which it is joined arezbridgedby a T-sh-aped strip 34 extending the length of a shelfs inner edge. Each strip 34 may be secured between a desk edge and an angle bar 27 by the screws 30 previously described as joining the desk edge and bar.

Shelf 7 and the partition frame 3 disposed thereon may be joined by screws 35, Fig. 9, whereby they mutually support each other and are maintained in proper alignment.

The three side edges of each shelf 7 which are unobstructed by desk members may be protected by a metal grip edge 36, Fig. 10, having an inwardly extending flange 37 secured in a peripheral ridge formed in the top surface of each shelf 7. -A linoleum shelf covering 38 extends across the top of the shelf and overlies the flange 37 of grip edge 36 concealing the same. Screws 39 secure both the covering 38 and edge 36 to shelf 7.

The desk arrangement shown in Fig. 3 differs from the structure described with reference to other figures of the drawings in the support of its four shelves. Angle brackets such as angle bars 27 may be employed to fasten each shelf to the desk which the shelf serves as side surface extension, while a strut and angle plate similar to members 28 and 32 will support the shelf from a leg of the other desk which has its rear edge bordering the shelf.

Both illustrated desk patterns facilitate the sharing of telephones or other ofiice equipment placed on the shelf members. A guest chair disposed at the end of one desk may be readily turned for use by the guest of a worker occupying another of the desks of the unit. Light directed from above the center of the unit will properly reach all desks, it having been found that the opaque glass partitions prevent glare surfaces.

The desk units make possible a substantially greater utilization of open-area ofiice space while affording greater privacy for an individual worker than with more conventional desk arrangements. Conversion to the described desk arrangement usually can be made while fully utilizing desk equipment already present in a business office.

The invention may have various embodiments within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A desk unit for otfice workers comprising a plurality of separate standard ofiice-type desks arranged with at least one side of each desk contiguous along a portion of its length to the side of another of the desks, partition members extending along and supported by contiguous top edges of said desks, said partition members being provided with channel-shaped frame rails along their bottom edges, and a connecting member secured to a frame rail and to the undersides of contiguous desk top edges to anchor corresponding partition upon supporting desks.

2. A desk unit for office workers comprising a plurality of separate standard office-type desks arranged with at least one side of each desk contiguous along a portion of its length to the side of another of the desks, partition members extending along and supported by contiguous top edges of said desks to provide a partition network between all desk occupants, said partition members being provided with channel-shaped frame rails along their edges, and a draw bolt secured to frame rails of converging partitions and to the undersides of contiguous desk top edges supporting the converging partitions to anchor the partitions upon supporting desks.

3. A desk unit for oflice workers comprising a plurality of separate standard ofiice-type desks arranged with at least one side of each desk contiguous along a portion of its length to the side of another of the desks, partition members extending along and supported by contiguous top edges of said desks to provide a partition network between all desk occupants, connecting blocks disposed between convergingpartitions and securing the same against relative vertical movement, and a bolt secured to the lowermost of'said blocks and to the undersides of contiguous desk top edges supporting the converging partitions to anchor the partitions upon supporting desks.

4. A desk unit for oflice workers comprising a plurality of separate standard generally rectangular officetype desks, shelves extending from the front top edge of selected desks to provide additional working surface aside the normal seated position of certain desk occupants, said desks and shelves being arranged with at least one of the longer edges of each desk contiguous along a portion of its length to the side of another of the desks and with a working surface provided between the normal seated positions of all desk occupants, and partition members extending along and supported by contiguous top edges of the desks and by said shelves to provide a partition network between all of said occupants, the terminal ends of said partition network being disposed inwardly of the surface defined by said desks and shelves to provide an area of said surface accessible to occupants of adjacent desks for the disposition of office equipment shared by the occupants.

5. A desk unit for office workers comprising at least two separate generally rectangular office-type desks, a shelf extending from the front top edge of at least one of said desks to provide additional working surface aside the normal seated position of a desk occupant, said desks and shelf being arranged with at least one side of each desk contiguous along a portion of its length to the side of another of the desks and with a working surface provided between the normal seated positions of all desk occupants, and partition members extending along and supported by contiguous top edges of the desks and by said shelf to provide a partition network between all occupants, the terminal ends of said partition network being disposed inwardly of the surface defined by said desks and shelf to provide an area accessible to occupants of adjacent desks for the disposition of office equipment shared by adjacent occupants.

6. A desk unit for office workers comprising at least two separate oblong standard office-type desks, a shelf extending beside the normal seated position of a desk occupant from the front elongated edge of at least one of said desks a distance at least equal to the difiierence in length of the unequal desk top edges and having an edge contiguous to the top edge of another of the desks, said desks and shelf being arranged with at least one of the shorter edges of each desk contiguous along a portion of its length to the top edge of another of the desks and with the line defined by such contiguous edges lying in the plane of said shelf, and partition members of equal length extending along and supported by contiguous top edges of the desks and by said shelf to provide a partition network between all desk occupants, the partition members of the network being readily separable for individual replacement by a like member of standard construction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,059,299 Inlow Apr. 15, 1913 1,563,381 Larmore Dec. 1, 1925 1,886,766 Ulrich Nov. 8, 1932 1,952,949 Spang Mar. 27, 1934 2,079,635 Sharp May 11, 1937 2,280,094 Madsen Apr. 21, 1942 2,305,183 Mehr Dec. 15, 1942 OTHER REFERENCES Architectural Record, February, 1941, page 49. Business Week, November 12, 1949, pages 22 and 23. Popular Science, May 1950, page 146. 

